Nursery World - Big ideas (1)

Ambitious thinking is demonstrated in the aims of Labour's ten-year strategy, but is the devil in the detail? Simon Vevers reports It was at the heart of Chancellor Gordon Brown's pre-budget report and, with the publication of the Government's ten-year strategy, childcare continues its meteoric rise up the political agenda.

It was at the heart of Chancellor Gordon Brown's pre-budget report and, with the publication of the Government's ten-year strategy, childcare continues its meteoric rise up the political agenda.

Choice for Parents, the best start for children: a ten-year strategy for childcare, which dovetails with the Children Act and the Change for Children programme - all three part of the Government's drive for integrated services - aims to 'make early years and childcare services a permanent part of the welfare state'.

Labour has identified three key principles which influence its strategy: giving every child the best possible start in life, responding to changing patterns of employment so that parents can progress their careers, and ensuring families have choices to balance work and family life.

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